About me: We are the Eclectic Cloggers of Seattle, Washington - a group of dancers whose high-energy performances are rooted in the traditional clog dancing and flat footing of the southern Appalachian region of the United States. As you might guess from our name, we are a pretty diverse group. We came to the Seattle area from every corner of the U.S., and we hold an amazing assortment of day jobs. What brings us together is our shared interest in preserving the heritage and art of this uniquely American dance and our enthusiasm for promoting old-time music and dance in our community.
Appalachian-style clogging is closely linked to traditional old-time music. In fact, the dance becomes part of the music, as the sound of the dancers' feet creates a driving, rhythmic background to the old-timey tunes. You can have one without the other, but it's not nearly as much fun.
Our original choreography borrows from a variety of traditional clogging styles, often building familiar contra, circle, and square dance figures into foot-stomping barn dances, intricate a cappella rhythms, or dances especially for children. While we tend to stick pretty close to our traditional roots, we've been known to incorporate elements from swing, tap, or other step dance traditions.
In our performances, we try to show our audiences what old-time southern style clogging looks like and sounds like. Clogging styles show the influence of different geographical areas, and our dancers have brought regional styles with them from all over the country. Some of our dances fill stage with women in colorful, swirling skirts and gents in natty suspenders, having so much fun that the audience is hard pressed to sit still. We often include a demonstration of freestyle clogging, the spontaneous kind of dance a recreational clogger might do when a hot pick-up band digs into a particularly irresistible tune. Our love of clogging, old-time music, and dancing together is infectious, and audiences are soon clapping and stamping right along with us.
Who I'd like to meet: New cloggers, olde-time fiddle bands, and fans!
If you can make it out to The Central in Seattle tomorrow it would mean a lot I hate get on stage and playing for the floor. I'll be on stage at 10pm to 11pm with my band Fulcrum and I must say this is one of the best band's I've ever been in. So I'm sure it's going to be a good show! Let me know if you can make it!
In a world were everything happens for a reason I have come to find there is no control only focus. We don't loose control we loose focus of a vision that is with in us all. I believe it is that very vision that makes us leaders and because of this I have come to find that there is no need for a follower. For the only thing you need to follow is your vision. What ever that my be. It seem that there are many people in this world that have no passion or drive to be really good at something and because of this they become followers of another persons dream. Or shell I say vision but if it's one thing I've learned growing up as a musician it is that all people her music differently but I'm sure you know that. Hears what you may not know. The reason why. It has to do with the time and place we experience events in are lives. I believe this is why we hear and see art in a different way. This is what give's the reason for people choosing rap over rock or country over jazz or both or all and so on. It's like were all just hearing what others have to say and at the same time shearing what we know.
So I was down town Seattle last weekend and this bum on the side of the road off 1st street gave me this poem. I'm think about using it in a song but not to sure if I should or not. Let me know what you think of it...
Midnight of a brave soul advances on the page of a burning book to heal the words of a hart while the eyes that read invite the most serene light to wash away the simple spell of hate on the dark cover of a noble letter.
HO HO Ho and a merry christmas! to you! I'm giving away free downloads. Wich means all my track are free to you and all the rest of my friends on myspace from 12-19-08 to 1-1-09. So have fun with them and may you have a beautiful non depressing holiday! From your good buddy Tone Poet!
